How do we answer people condemning gay rights and what God says?
Is the translation correct in the sayings in the Bible?
Note: These are my personal feelings on the matter. Each person should come to an understanding based on their own experiences, knowledge, and education. I encourage you to look at the world through the lens of love and understanding rather than judgment and ridicule.
Responding to those who are adamant that they know everything about human sexuality and condemn homosexuality, usually with vitriol and hate for our LGBTQIA+ siblings, is difficult. I've even been approached asking how I can support, let alone love, what they call a "hideous perversion," and tell me that the alphabet mafia wants to force their "gay agenda" on the world.
I think that folks get so twisted up so much in hate that it becomes an acid that starts to eat through their soul and diminish their capacity to love. They decide to hate what is different or what they don't understand, rather than spend time with and learn about others, seeking a relationship rather than condemnation. In their lack of understanding, they think being gay is a "lifestyle choice," thinking that people actually choose to be gay. Homosexuality is not a choice or a lifestyle.
I don't claim to know the intricacies of human sexuality, and you don't either unless you have studied it extensively ad nauseam and have done advanced research (i.e., Ph.D. level work). Human sexuality is highly complex. We are complex biological creatures given the capacity to reason, love, and have relationships. It's not a cut-and-dry, right or wrong answer. In my head, I personally default to the side of a "theology of relationship," meaning it's more about our relationships with one another than it is about biological sex and how our anatomical parts fit together.
How do I answer them? I try to answer them in love… what I mean is, don't take the bait and be reduced to exchanging venom for venom. I usually start by apologizing for them, "I'm sorry you feel that way," and then follow up by saying, "Jesus taught us to love one another, so that's what I want to do." I usually add, "I was taught and I promised to respect the dignity of every human being. They are as much children of God as we are." If they feel like they need to correct me, I sometimes throw in some sarcasm and say, "Where did you do your degree work in human sexuality?" But that's unnecessary, and I'm not suggesting you get caught in that spiral. Sometimes, there's no reasoning with folks who have decided to hate.
Some folks have gotten themselves so twisted into scripture, saying "the Bible says!" Well, does the Bible really say? Or is that just what you think the Bible means because it fits your hatred? Most of the clobber passages people use to prooftext when arguing about homosexuality are part of the Levitical holiness code. The holiness code addressed the people of Israel's behavior concerning holiness (God first, also stay away from temple prostitutes), respect (how you should honor one another and the sojourner that passes through your land), family (how it was essential to procreate and have large families to perpetuate the faith), and health (what food to eat and how they should be prepared, what body fluids you could come in contact with and hygiene, as well as staying away from temple prostitutes). These laws require you to stay in and lie fallow on the Sabbath, which would rule out yard work, shopping at the mall, or attending a sporting event. The same list says you can't eat crabs, shrimp, or bacon. It's the same code that calls for you to kill your kids if they curse or disobey you. The same penalty goes for anyone who has committed adultery. The idea is that if you're reading the Bible through a lens of hatred and retribution, that's what you'll find.
The referenced pieces in the New Testament are primarily 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and 1 Timothy 1:9-10. In modern translations, some English versions since 1946 include the terms effeminate, homosexual, or sodomite, which have sparked recent debates about the true meaning of the Greek word ἀρσενοκοίταις (arsenokoitais). Before 1946, ἀρσενοκοίταις was defined as one who lies with young boys. After that, for some reason (possibly social or political), it was altered to refer to men who lie with men.
As for Sodomy, I beg you to go back and read the story of Sodom and Gomorrah again. I don't think you will find any reference to homosexuality (Genesis 19:1-9). Read the entire story in context and get the big picture. Ask yourself what the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was in that time and in that culture.
The whole Bible is about how God's people see God working in their lives. It has everything: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Reading scripture through the lens of love is an excellent tool for teaching us how to live our lives in love and relationships.
I encountered an engaging (and somewhat humorous) bit some time ago. It was modified and featured on the popular TV show The West Wing and became part of Martin Sheen's dialogue in a scene. CLIP HERE
Laura Schlessinger is a US radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstances. The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a US resident:
Dear Dr. Laura,
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law. I have learned a great deal from your show and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him or her that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to follow them.
When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?
I have a neighbor who insists on working on Sunday (the Sabbath). In the book of Exodus Lev. 25:35:2 it clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t know. Can you settle this?
Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?
I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev.24:10-16). Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14).
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging, and we should do what the bible says.
Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.
While this is somewhat playful, it does get at the heart of biblical literalism and expresses that the Bible is messy and complex.
The Bible is complicated, and reading and teaching it properly requires an education. People spend their entire lives studying it. We use it in Church to learn how to better know God and our salvation through Jesus. However, some of us only get a small gist of the stories and their meaning. We need to be able to read it and determine the truths it is trying to convey about the nature of God and God's creation, without looking at every word of an English translation as if it were written directly by God.
Be assured that when folks come at you from a literal tradition that "knows what the Bible says, because they read it," or "that's what their preacher told them," they want confrontation. They want to be right and you to be wrong. The best thing to do is to be non-combative and let them speak their peace. Any answer you give will be inadequate in their mind, and the whole dialogue will feel like you're talking over each other.
